Monty enjoys a hero's reception

Martell Cognac Grand National hero Monty’s Pass enjoyed a rapturous reception on his return to Ireland today.

The Jimmy Mangan-trained 10-year-old was due to return here in the early hours of this morning but connections missed the 3am ferry from Holyhead following an impromptu party in Liverpool on Saturday night.

Instead, they boarded the 9am sailing to Dublin and stopped off on their way to County Cork at the Curragh, where the runaway National winner paraded after the second race.

The horse was led round by Mangan’s wife Mary, while her husband received a presentation of a bronze horse’s head from Curragh committee chairman Michael Osborne to mark the occasion.

“There’s not a mark on him and all he wants is a pick of grass,” Mrs Mangan said. “We are delighted to bring him here on our way home to Conna where he will be paraded this evening at 8pm.”

Winning jockey Barry Geraghty barely had an anxious moment in the big race as the pair cruised home by 12 lengths from Supreme Glory, and the in-form rider could be back on the horse this evening, according to Mrs Mangan.

“Barry is riding at Tramore but will come over and I may even let him ride the horse down the main street. I’d love to do it myself but I’m sure he will want to!” she added.

The horse was escorted into the parade ring by his trainer and his veteran travelling head man, Mossy Hartnett.

Next stop is their home town of Conna where the two local pubs, The Winner’s Enclosure, owned by point-to-point enthusiast Kay Moroney, and The Fisherman’s Rest, owned by Oliver and Frances Toomey, will be bursting at the seams, according to Hartnett.

“He’s in great form. We didn’t mind missing the ferry as we had a bit of a party in Liverpool,” Mangan said.

“There’s only one National and plenty of ferries.

“I’ll enter the horse for the Heineken Chase at Punchestown but I’m not saying he’ll run in it. We are thinking more in terms of another Kerry National and then plan again for Aintree.

“Maybe Henrietta Knight would bring over Best Mate for the Kerry National and keep the weights down for us!”

Amberleigh House and Gunner Welburn were third and fourth respectively and it could be that all the principals renew rivalry in 2004.

Supreme Glory’s effort went a long way to compensating connections for last year’s disappointment when he had been a leading fancy in the ante-post market for the National only to be ruled out of the race through injury.

“He likes good ground but he’s not the quickest in the world on it,” said trainer Pat Murphy. “Given good to soft ground we’ll be back next year.

“We’ve looked after him a bit. He’s a 10-year-old and has had about 21 races so I’d like to think he’ll run in these sort of races for two or three years yet.

“We knew he would get outpaced because the ground was quick enough, but he jumped superbly and was very safe.

“I thought he was given an absolutely superb ride by Leighton Aspell, who was having his first ride on the track.

“A lot of people said this year’s National was the best for a long time. Last year he was nearly favourite when he got injured and maybe luck dealt us a cruel hand and robbed us of a National, but I won‘t dwell on that because it was such a thrill yesterday.”

Supreme Glory has become Murphy’s flag-bearer and the East Garston, near Hungerford, trainer said: “It was such a thrill to watch and be part of it. Basically that’s why we do this job at a lowly level to take part on days like that.

“He’s never let us down. He’s been placed in the Scottish National, won the Welsh National and been placed in the Grand National and let’s hope he does some good for our business.

“Jump racing gives you a chance to take part on the big stage.”

Supreme Glory has taken his Aintree exertions well.

“He’s come out of the race absolutely fine,” added Murphy. “He’s eaten up and hasn’t a scratch on him. He was out in the paddock enjoying a bit of freedom this morning.”

Amberleigh House at one stage looked like rekindling the glory days of the legendary Red Rum for trainer Ginger McCain.

‘Rummy’ won the National a record three times in the 1970s for McCain and Amberleigh House momentarily evoked thoughts of another victory in this year’s renewal when challenging for the lead at the second last fence only to weaken into third place on the run-in.

“We were stone cold delighted with the run,” McCain said today. “It was very satisfying indeed.

“Take one horse away yesterday and he would have won. It was only having to chase the winner that cost him second place. But it was a grand run and we are all tickled pink.

“We were going to go to Punchestown but we’ve passed on that and he will be let down now.

“He was a bit tired last night but he‘d had a race.

“He’s a good little Liverpool horse and the Becher Chase and Grand National are his two targets next season.”

First-season trainer Andrew Balding, responsible for fourth-placed Gunner Welburn, has not ruled out another bid for the Aintree marathon even though the gelding appeared not to stay the four-and-a-half miles.

“It was a big thrill for us all watching what was the longest nine-and-a-half minutes of my life, particularly after he made a bad mistake at the first fence where Barry Fenton did well to stay on him, but after that it was a joy to watch,” Balding told attheraces.

“We always had the doubt about him lasting the trip, but going to the Canal Turn for the second time they were starting to get well strung out and it slightly crossed your mind that he might hang on. But when they turned onto the main racecourse again you could see Monty’s Pass was going very well and Barry was just running on empty from the second last.

“But we are very pleased he held on for fourth and came back safe and sound.

“He seems fine today. He was absolutely exhausted afterwards, as were one or two other horses with the heat on the day. He had given his all and stayed the night at Liverpool but is home now.

“There are plenty of good races for him next season.

“You never know what can happen in a National, if there was a melee with a loose horse at the Canal Turn and he’d stolen 20 lengths. We won’t rule it out totally next year but it looks unlikely that he’ll win one.”

Meanwhile, Martin Pipe said today his Iris Bleu is “comfortable” in hospital after being pulled up lame by Tony McCoy.

But the news was less good about one of the champion trainer’s riders Gerry Supple, who is recovering from a broken leg.

Pipe saddled seven runners in the race with his finishers being Blowing Wind (eighth), Majed (12th) and Royal Predica (13th).

Iris Bleu was pulled up, while Polar Champ unseated his rider and You’re Agoodun and Burlu (Supple) fell.

“Iris Bleu is comfortable at the vets in Liverpool and the early signs - after loads of X-rays – are that nothing is broken,” Pipe said. “He is lame though, and we just hope he will be all right. He’s got plenty of swelling and a haematoma.”

Of his other horses, Pipe said: “Blowing Wind ran another great race and was staying on at the end. He’s finished in three Nationals now, which is fantastic.

“Majed ran well, while Royal Predica gave Jamie Moore an exciting ride. Like Blowing Wind he’s owned by Peter Deal so it was fantastic that two of his horses finished the race.

“You’re Agoodun is fine, as are Burlu and Polar Champ.”

Of Supple, Pipe said: “Gerry broke his leg and is having an operation today to have his thigh pinned.

“He’ll have something in common with me now as I’ve got mine pinned as well!

“I spoke to him this morning and he said he was fine, although obviously he will be out of action for a while.”

Well-backed Youlneverwalkalone, pulled up after the 12th fence with a fractured off-fore leg, underwent surgery at Leahurst Veterinary Hospital this morning to have pins inserted in the injured leg.

Frank Berry, racing manager to his owner JP McManus, said: “He was operated on for a fracture of his off-fore cannon-bone. It’s early days yet but it’s so far so good with the horse.